Can I REALLY recover from an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a complex medical, psychological, emotional and life-threatening illness, but it is a treatable condition. It is important to find a therapist that is competent in treating eating disorders, as well-meaning professionals without specialized training can do harm. Your multi-disciplinary treatment team should include your therapist, your doctor, your dietician and your psychiatrist (as necessary.) Although everyone’s road to recovery is different, in the end, recovery means being free from the physical and emotional distress of the eating disorder. It involves slowing down and tuning into the wisdom of your body, learning how to cope with emotions in new ways, and cultivating self-acceptance and self-love. Full recovery is possible, but it requires work and commitment.

What is your approach to EATING Disorder treatment?

Finding the right therapist and the right treatment approach is critical to your recovery. There is not a one-size fits all approach that works for everyone in recovery. My integrative approach to therapy brings together mindfulness, acceptance, compassion and attachment-based therapies. I use evidence-based treatment approaches, and I take into context your larger life perspective, with special focus on your strengths and unique experience. I work collaboratively, so together we will develop a treatment plan with goals to support your recovery. My holistic style helps integrate the dynamic connection between your mind, heart, and body that affect your overall health to support you to make changes to reach your goals, attain emotional well-being, and improve your life.

What's the difference between an eating disorder and disordERed eating?

According to the National Eating Disorders Association approximately 35% of normal dieters develop a pattern of pathological dieting or disordered eating. An additional 20%-25% go on to develop an eating disorder. The difference between having an eating disorder and having disordered eating lies in the frequency and severity of behaviors and the distress these behaviors cause to the individual. Although individuals with disordered eating patterns can not be diagnosed with a full-blown eating disorder, they still may suffer negative medical, psychological and emotional consequences.

Disordered eating is epidemic in our culture. Some disordered food behaviors include going gluten-free, becoming vegan, following the Paleo diet, or obsessing with clean eating and cleanses. Those who follow rigid food rules have an increased risk of developing an eating disorder. The social acceptability of these fad diets makes detecting eating disorders more difficult among those who struggle with them, which prevents them from getting the help they need to overcome this potentially fatal disorder.

What are signs of an eating disorder?

You or someone you know may be struggling with eating disorder if you notice the following behaviors: striving for perfection, rigid beliefs and thoughts, excessive exercise habits, extreme fear of gaining weight, food rules, limited variety of food intake, and defensiveness or denial when a loved one confronts them about eating disordered behaviors.